Heating system.



E. H. GOLD.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1908.

926,734. Patented July 6, 1909.

2 SHEETBSHEET 1.

E. H. GOLD.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1908.

926,734 a Patented July 6, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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EGBERT H. GOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HEATING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed November 14, 1908. Serial No. 462,694.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eonnn'r H. GOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at hicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a steam heating system employing a steam actuated device, and has for its object to protect such device from contact with the water of condensation formed Within the system, by trapping and discharging such water of condensation before it reaches the steam actuated part, Without interfering with the free passage of the'steam thereto, thereby subjecting the device only to the thermostatic influence of steam or vapor. So, also, with such a type of heating system, known as the vapor system, the constant dripping; of the water of condensation against the thermostatic member of the controller may cause the same to become worn and to get out of order. Furthermore, in very cold weather, and particularly when the car has been cut oil from the locomotive, the thermostat chamber may possibly become clogged with ice formed by the long continued, gradual dripping out of the water of condensation.

The present invention interposes in the heating system, at a point in advance of and preferably adjacent to the thermostatic controller, or other steam actuated part, a device arranged to discharge the water of condensation, which device is so constructed as to give a free passage for the steam to the steam actuated device, while the water discharge preferably is sealed against the escape of steam.

The invention, as embodied in the articular system chosen for purposes of ii ustration, is shown in the accompanying draw ings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of a steam heating system embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a typical form of inlet controlling device, which, in this case, is to be protected from contact with the water of condensation. Fig. 3 is a cross scc tion through the water discharge device. Fig. 4. is a section on the line 4t l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3, look mg in the direction of the arrows.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several :ligurcs of ti c drawings.

in the form of heating system shown, A is the train pipe, B the controller or vapor regulator, (J, diagrammatically, the radiator or system of pipes through which the steam taken from the train pipe is circulated, D a pipe leading from the train pipe to the vapor regulator B having the usual hand operated valve 1), and E the water discharge device interposed in the system in advance of and adjacent to the thermostat chamber of the vapor regulator B.

A typical form of vapor .regulator is shown in Fig. 2. The casing 6 is divided into the high pressure chamber 7, into which pipe 1.) from the train p ipe leads, low pressure chamber S, with which the inlet end 9 of the radiator is connected, and a discharge chamber 10, into which leads the discharge pipe 11 of the radiator.

12 is a casing in which is located a thermostatic member 13, which here shown as consisting of a receptacle containing an cxpansiblc or volatile liuid. Casings 6' and 12 are connected by a pipe 1%, through which extends an operating rod 15, connected with a lever 16, which, in turn, is connected with the stem 17 of a valve 18, which controls the port 19 between high pressure chamber 7 and low pressure chamber 8. The thermostatic member 13 has the ordinary adjusting screw 20.

The operation of this device in the co111'1cc tion shown is familiar. Supposing thermostat 13 contracted, valve 18 will stand open, allmving the admission of steam from the train pipe A into the radiating pipes. The device is so set that, when the radiating pipes have been filled with steam, the contact of the steam with the thermostatic member 13 will expand the same suiiicicntly to close or throttle valve 18, whereupon the flow of steam in through the valve D and out to the thermostat chamber 12 ceases, and the heated thermostat tends to cool and contract, thereby rcopcning the inlet valve 18 and renewing the steam supply. Where, however, the hot water of condensation escapes through the thermostat casing 12, it tends to retard the cooling and contraction of the heated and expanded thermostat, so that, under some conditions of service, the action of the vapor regulator may be objectionably sluggish. It is a main object outlet 23, and it is formed with a pocket 2 1,

of the present invention to prevent such} sluggish action at all times.

Ordinarily all or a portion of the vapor l regulator is located outside of the car. It, therefore, may sometimes happen that after steam has been turned off, as by closing valve D, the slowly dripping water of condensation freezes in pipe 14: and casing 12, necessitating the thawing out of these parts before the heating system can be made to operate properly, and, perhaps, at the same time, doing damage to the thermostatic member. The constant dripping of the water through pipe 14 and upon the thermostat also tends to wear out the latter. My present invention, therefore, interposes in the return pipe 11 of the radiator and adja cent to the vapor regulator means for discharging the water of condensation before it reaches the vapor regulator, preferably by such an attachment as the discharge device E, illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive. This device consists of a fitting hav ing an inlet 21, a steam outlet 22 and a water into which extends a web 25, which stands across the water outlet 23. By this arrang ment the water of condensation as it flows or is forced through return pipe 11 is trapped in the pocket 24 of the fitting E and is allowed to escape through the water outlet 23, whence it may fall to the ground or be conducted off in any desired manner. With this form of device sufficient water will always remain in the pocket to constitute a fluid seal against the escape of steam, which will flow on un obstructedly to the automatic vapor regulator or controller.

It may happen that the water may freeze in fitting E, but, in that event, no particular harm is done, because a passage-way for the remaining water of condensation and for steam remains open through the upper part of the fitting. Consequently, as soon as steam is turned on, any ice formed in the fitting will be thawed out without any difficulty.

By sealing the water outlet against the escape of steam, I avoid the possibility of drawing in air through the thermostat casing 12 and pipe 14, thereby directing all steam through the water outlet, which circuit might be established under some circumstances where the water outlet opens directly from the pipe 11. Obviously, however, the utility of the water outlet interposed between the radiator and the automatic inlet controlling device does not always depend upon the presence of a seal at such outlet.

I do not limit myself to the particular devices, constructions and arrangements shown and described, as modifications might be devised which would come within the scope of my invention as defined by the claims.

I claim 1. A steam heating system, comprising a radiator, a steam actuated device which controls the flow of fluid. to said radiator, a conduit leadmg from the discharge end of said radiator to said steam actuated device, a fitting interposed in said conduit in advance of said device and having a steam passage-way, a pocket below the steam passage-way, a discharge outlet, and a web extending across the discharge outlet into the pocket.

2. The combination with a radiator, of thermostatic means for controlling the sup- P y conduit leading from the discharge end of the radiator to said inlet controlling means, sai l. conduit being provided with a discharge outlet interposed in said conduit in advance of said thermostatic means, which is constantly open to the outflow of water of condensation, but is constructed so that said water of condensation seals said opening against the escape of steam.

3. A car heating system com rising a train pipe, a radiator, a controlling c evice for con trolling the inflow of steam to the radiator in response to thermostatic conditions at the outlet thereof, comprising a thermostat located at the outlet of said radiator, and a relief fitting arranged near the outlet from said radiator in advance of said thermostat, said fitting provided with a steam passage in the upper part, a water pocket below the same, a water outlet from said water pocket, and a web which extends across and below the water outlet dividing the same from the steam passage, whereby an unrestricted passage way is formed for water which is sealed against the escape of steam.

4. The combination with a heating system and an inlet controlling thermostat exposed to the thermostatic influence of the steam at a point near an outlet of the system, of means in advance of said thermostat provided with an outlet which is constantly open for the outflow of water, arranged to constantly discharge the water of condensation from the system while preventing the escape of steam.

5. A steam heating system comprising a radiator, a valve for the same, a device actuated by the steam in said system to control said valve, and means located between the radiator and said steam actuated device arranged to discharge the water of condensation from the system while preventing the escape of steam and allowing the free passage of steam to said steam actuated device, said means provided with an outlet which is con stantly open to the outflow of water, but so constructed as to be sealed by water against the escape of steam.

6. In a steam heating system, a radiator provided with an outlet, a thermostat arranged near the outlet, a valve operated by said thermostat and arranged to control the inflow of steam to said system, and a relief of steam to the radiator, and a steamfitting arranged immediately in advance of said thermostat for diverting the Water of condensation from contact with the thermostat, said fitting having a water outlet constantly open for the outflow of Water from said system, and being so constructed as to be sealed by Water against the escape of steam.

7. In a steam heating system, a circuit for steam comprising a radiator, a controlling device to control the flow of fluid in said circuit, comprising a thermostat arranged so as to be under the influence of the steam in said circuit, and a valve actuated by said thermostat; and a relief fitting in said circuit immediately in advance of said thermostat for diverting the Water of condensation from contact with said thermostat, said fitting having a Water outlet constantly open to the outflow of Water and being so constructed as to be sealed by Water against the escape of steam.

8. A steam heating system comprising a radiator, an automatic controlling device for controlling the admission of steam to the radiator and means in the system in advance of and adjacent the actuating member of said controlling device for continuously discharging Water of condensation While preventing the escape of steam therethrough and allowing the continuous free passage of steam to said controlling device.

EGBIERT I'l GOLD.

W'itnesses G. Y. SKINNER, E. Bnnrnnn'r. 

